Shocking Details of Private Danny Chen Case Revealed

Share

Back in early October, Nineteen-year-old Private Danny Chen was found dead inside the guard tower of an American base in Afghanistan. His non-combat death caused a local uproar in his hometown community of Chinatown, with the story eventually making national headlines. Eight soldiers currently face criminal charges ranging from negligent homicide to making false statements about Chen’s death.

Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon, Council member Margaret Chin held a press conference with Chen’s parents and OCA-NY to announce the findings of the official investigation. The report provides shocking details of mistreatment and abuse by fellow servicemen.

Private Danny Chen was made to do push-ups while holding water in his mouth.

Private Danny Chen was assigned “excessive guard duty” to the point of exhaustion.

During one incident, Private Danny Chen was made to wear a green helmet and shout orders in Chinese.

On September 27th, a superior officer dragged Private Danny Chen out of bed and over 15 meters of gravel. This left visible bruises and cuts on Private Danny Chen’s back.

The September 27th incident was reported to Private Chen’s Platoon Sergeant and Squad Leader who did not report the incident to higher officers.

On the day of his death, Private Danny Chen reported for guard duty without his helmet. After returning to his trailer for his helmet, he was made to crawl over gravel for 100 meters while soldiers threw rocks at him.

On the day he died, Private Chen did not have adequate water while serving on guard duty.

Private Danny Chen was the only Chinese-American in his unit.

Share

Tags

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay Connected:

Recent Stories

Spanish indie rock outfit Hinds drops their much anticipated third album today, The Prettiest Curse. Prior to the pandemic, I chatted with lead singer and guitarist Carlotta Cosails. An unabashed fan, my goal was to avoid becoming awkward fangirl, Mel, from Flight of the Conchords. A nearly impossible feat, as Hinds’ first two albums, Leave […]

You may have noticed the lack of trash cans on street corners around the Lower East Side this week. Vanished seemingly overnight. As a precaution this week, the city quietly removed receptacles from neighborhoods overwhelmingly hit by unrest and looting following the killing of George Floyd. It’s estimated that roughly 2,000 were temporarily towed citywide, […]

When New York City begins its reopening on Monday, SoHo will be boarded up as if for a hurricane, and the streets emptier than when the COVID-19 shutdown began. Signage of the luxury retailers has also been erased by the appearance of bare plywood, Black Lives Matter graffiti, or both. But the Museum of Ice […]

By the time this article is published, 11 weeks of self-isolation will have passed. It’s been 11 weeks since many of us have gone to work, since grocery stores have felt safe, and since handshakes have felt friendly. And those are only the most banal, everyday changes. When it comes to the moments we share […]

When the pandemic hit, it was mainly the luxury stores in SoHo that began boarding up the windows for fear of looting. It’s now a reality in the atmosphere following the controversial death of George Floyd, an African American man who died in Minneapolis police custody. For days, looters took to the streets, oftentimes piggybacking off […]

The rioting and violence has clouded (and overwhelmed) the national protest movement formed in response to the controversial death of George Floyd by Minneapolis cops last month. It’s what dominates the narrative now. And no neighborhood is immune. Chinatown was also hard hit by looters this week. Mom-and-pop shops Buy Rite Pharmacy (215 Grand Street) […]

A fifth night of protests spilled onto lower Orchard Street yesterday, as several businesses were vandalized. The Roasting Plant coffee shop, R&D (formerly Brigitte) on Canal street, and the Alexander Olch boutique, were all hit. Shattered windows and looting. It’s unclear what was taken from each store. With regard to Olch’s store, vandals tagged it […]

A weekend of violent protests and looting – fueled by the death of George Floyd at the hand of Minneapolis cops – left downtown Manhattan charred and shattered. Businesses in SoHo up to Union Square were some of the hardest hit. Boogie contributor Eddie Panta was eyewitness to the smash-and-grab bedlam. Part I: The Nike Store […]

Whenever an event of significance hits the news, neighbors can easily expect a new banner unfurled on the Delancey Street foot bridge over the FDR. Indeed, for the third time in as many months, a new message. “I can’t breathe,” a tribute to George Floyd, for whom these were final words. While being placed in […]

What lockdown? In Hell Square, it’s almost as if the last few months were in vain. Sunday afternoon saw an overflowing party for the opening Bel-Fries on Ludlow Street. It was seemingly planned for maximum marketing value, despite the COVID-19 lockdown. A “Miami style” event with luxury cars, deejay booth, professional photo rigs, and plenty […]

Advertisement

Advertisement

Bowery Boogie is the leading website covering the news and lifestyle of the Lower East Side neighborhood and its residents. It is known for keen wit and hard-hitting news coverage. Founded in 2008, Bowery Boogie is headquartered in New York City.